Welcome to Banks Street Kindy!
Banks Street Kindy, is a small, not-for-profit C&K community kindergarten located on the grounds of the Newmarket State School.
At Banks Street Kindy your child will be guided through a learning journey of self-discovery, social cohesion, and life readiness. You will see a natural environment inside and outside. You will feel the warmth and kindness of a traditional community kindergarten. You will hear children playing together with developmentally appropriate experiences. You will sense the calm mindfulness in our people, place, and kindergarten culture.
We have a deep respect for our First Nations Traditional Owners and have embedded respect for our land, our animals and our people into our program.
Why Banks St Kindy?
Kindy community connections: We are extremely proud of the close cooperation within our kindy community. Our volunteer kindy management committee is very active and encourage different opportunities for you to be part of your kindy experience.
Dedicated and qualified staff: Our Kindy Director, Sharon Kemp, has been with us for many years and has a Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood) with Honors and a Masters of Education. Sharon also works with our universities to mentor our future generation of teachers. Supporting Sharon is a committed team of educators ready to welcome you as you arrive.
Amazing Art Program: Kath our Art Teacher works with all of our students to develop and encourage creativity. The artwork produced under Kath’s guidance is amazing, collaboratively worked on over several days or weeks. Families and carers are invited to celebrate the creativity and final works at our annual art show.
Strong connection to country: We encourage respect for our lands and our First Nations people. We enjoy a “Welcome To Country” song and have a daily acknowledgement of country and are fortunate to be joined by Aunty Sharron and Uncle Bruce to teach us about First Nation Culture. We encourage sustainably and learn about native foods and ways of living and enjoy a Bush Kindy day – allowing us to explore and take a walk through the local Banks St Reserve, listening for different animal sounds and observing the different patterns and colours of nature.
Strong connection to Newmarket State School: We are very lucky to be able to have a close connection with Newmarket State School. Our students can visit the library, participate in school activities such as under 8’s day and emergency fire drills and enjoy tuckshop from the school. If Newmarket State School is not your Prep destination, the familiarity with a “big school” helps build confidence for the transition.
Outdoor spaces: We have daily outdoor play with multiple areas to encourage physical activity. We have a sandpit, mud kitchen, fairy garden and our beloved chickens – Rainbow and Lamington. Our morning tea and lunch is often enjoyed outside in the shade of our native trees and we are fortunate to enjoy new learning resources each year with the efforts from our fundraising activities.
Testimonials
Comments from our parents from our latest survey:
Banks St Kindy has been amazing for our son, we love it. Great teachers, supportive learning environment and lots of fun. Can’t wait to send little brother.
We are sometimes amazed by the smart things she comes home with and can explain to us that she has learned at kindy.
Many kindy initiatives are around sustainability. Recycling, gardening and chickens – great to see.
Sharon and the team do a great job everyday to nurture the children and challenge them to explore new ways of learning.
They (the staff) are all amazing! Very approachable and welcoming. I enjoyed being greeted at the door in the mornings and the afternoons.
My boy has learned so much from the team and has developed a love for learning. I am very grateful for all that they do.
Important skills of being kind, inclusive and respectful to everyone are reminded every day. We can see him finding a better ways of dealing with other children in conflict.
Banks Street Kindy 